Sentinel-6B

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Sentinel-6B
Illustration of the Sentinel-6B spacecraft in orbit above Earth with its deployable solar panels extended
NamesSentinel-6B
Jason-CS B
Mission typeOceanography mission
OperatorEUMETSAT / NASA
Websitewww.eumetsat.int/sentinel-6
Mission duration5.5 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
BusSentinel-6
ManufacturerAirbus Defence and Space
Launch mass1,192 kg (2,628 lb)
Dimensions5.13 x 4.17 x 2.34 metres
Power891 watts
Start of mission
Launch date16 November 2025
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
Launch siteVandenberg, SLC-4E
ContractorSpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Altitude1,336 km (830 mi)
Inclination66.0°
Repeat interval10 days
Instruments
  • Radar altimeter
  • Advanced Microwave Radiometer (AMR-C)
  • GNSS Precise Orbit Determination (POD) Receiver
  • DORIS Receiver
  • Laser Reflector Array (LRA)
  • Radio-occultation instrument

Sentinel-6B (S6B) is a radar altimeter satellite developed in partnership between several European and American organizations. It is part of the Jason satellite series. S6B includes a synthetic-aperture radar altimetry instrument designed to improve ocean topography measurements, as well as topography of rivers and lakes.[1] The spacecraft is expected to operate for 5.5 years after entering service.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The main objective of the Sentinel-6 mission is to measure sea surface topography with high accuracy and reliability to support ocean forecasting systems, environmental monitoring, and climate monitoring.[8][9]

Background

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Since the launch of TOPEX/Poseidon on 10 August 1992, high-precision satellite altimeters have been essential for monitoring how the ocean stores and redistributes heat, water, and carbon in the climate system. The Sentinel-6 program is a continuation of this series of mesurements. It includes two identical satellites launched five years apart, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, which launched on 21 November 2020,[10] and Sentinel-6B, expected to launch on 16 November 2025.[11] They are designed to extend the legacy of satellite altimetry at least through 2030, which will provide a nearly forty-year record of sea level rise as well as changes in ocean currents.[11][12][13][14]

Launch

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During 2025, Sentinel-6B underwent a series of checks at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany and it was later transported by truck to Bremen, Germany. In July 2025, the satellite was transported from Bremen to Galveston, Texas aboard the cargo ship Industrial Dolphin.[15] In late August 2025, the satellite arrived by truck at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.[16] On 24 September 2025, the satellite was transferred to the Astrotech Space Operations processing facility. By 1 October 2025, the satellite was unpacked from its storage container and prepared for its launch campaign.[17][18] Meanwhile at ESOC, the simulation campaign for the satellite's Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) started on 2 September 2025.[19]

Instruments

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Partnership

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Sentinel-6 was developed by European Space Agency (ESA) in the context of the European Copernicus Programme led by the European Commission, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), NASA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the European Commission and technical support from France's National Centre for Space Studies (CNES).[21]

The mission definition is driven by the need for continuity in provision of TOPEX/Poseidon mission and Jason satellite series (Jason-1, OSTM/Jason-2, and Jason-3) with improvements in instrument performance and coverage.[22] ESA, NASA, and EUMETSAT provide mission management and system engineering support. EUMETSAT and NASA are responsible for long-term archives of altimetry data products. All partners were involved with the selection of science investigators.[22]

ESA

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  • has responsibility for the development of the first satellite and the ground prototype processors, and for procurement of the second satellite on behalf of EUMETSAT and the European Commission
  • has responsibility for conducting the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) of both satellites
  • supports flight operations performed by EUMETSAT

EUMETSAT

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  • has responsibility for ground segment development and coordination at system level, including for operations preparation
  • has responsibility for conducting operations of the two satellites after LEOP performed by ESA
  • has responsibility for conducting operations of the European part of the ground segment, including processing of altimeter data and delivery of product services to European users

NASA

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  • has responsibility for the development and delivery of the U.S. payload instruments, the microwave radiometer and the GNSS radio occultation receiver
  • provides launch services for both satellites
  • provides ground segment development support and will contribute to operations and data processing on the U.S. side, including processing of GNSS radio occultation data
  • with NOAA, shares responsibility for the distribution of products to research and operational users in the U.S.

NOAA

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  • provides a U.S. ground station for tracking and command of the satellite and data downlinks
  • with NASA, shares responsibility for the distribution of products to research and operational users in the U.S.

CNES

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  • has responsibility for processing higher-level products (L2P, L3)
  • has responsibility for providing precise orbit determination and support for Doris and altimeter operations[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Donlon, Craig J.; Cullen, Robert; Giulicchi, Luisella; Vuilleumier, Pierrik; Francis, C. Richard; Kuschnerus, Mieke; Simpson, William; Bouridah, Abderrazak; Caleno, Mauro; Bertoni, Roberta; Rancaño, Jesus (1 June 2021). "The Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission: Enhanced continuity of satellite sea level measurements from space". Remote Sensing of Environment. 258 112395. Bibcode:2021RSEnv.258k2395D. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2021.112395. ISSN 0034-4257. S2CID 233566650.
  2. ^ "Sentinel-6B - NASA Science". 17 September 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  3. ^ "WMO OSCAR Satellite: Sentinel-6B". space.oscar.wmo.int. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Sentinel-6B | NASA's Earth Observing System". eospso.nasa.gov. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Sea-level monitoring satellite unboxed". www.esa.int. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Sentinel-6 B Satellite Mission Summary | CEOS Database". database.eohandbook.com. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Copernicus: Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich - eoPortal". www.eoportal.org. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Copernicus Sentinel-6: Testing Complete for New International Ocean Satellite". SciTechDaily. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. ^ "New sea-level monitoring satellite goes live". ESA. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  10. ^ Howell, Elizabeth (20 November 2020). "SpaceX will launch the Sentinel-6 ocean-mapping satellite Saturday". SPACE.com. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Jason-CS (Sentinel 6) Summary". sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov. NASA. August 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  12. ^ "Upcoming Satellite Mission will Improve Hurricane Forecasts and Climate Science, NOAA Expert Says". NOAA. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ^ "A Decade of Global Sea Level Measurements: Jason-2 Marks Tenth Year in Orbit". nesdis.noaa.gov. NOAA. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  14. ^ B., Mark (8 September 2020). "NASA Sentinel 6 Michael Freilich to Launch in November 2020". Science Times.
  15. ^ "Sea-level monitoring satellite Sentinel-6B sets sail". www.esa.int. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Sea-level charting satellite arrives at California launch site". www.esa.int. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Sea-level monitoring satellite unboxed". www.esa.int. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  18. ^ "Sentinel-6B Satellite Moves into Payload Processing Phase - NASA Science". 30 September 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Rehearsing for Sentinel-6B's early days in space". www.esa.int. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Sentinel-6". EUMETSAT. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  21. ^ Greicius, Tony (19 November 2020). "Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite Prepared for Launch". NASA. Retrieved 21 November 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  22. ^ a b "Sentinel-6 Overview". ESA. Retrieved 29 October 2019.